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Saturday, July 30, 2016

On May 11, 1863, Private Daniel C. Holloway of Company D, 148th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry sent this letter to his mother and a family friend in Aaronsburg, Centre County, Pennsylvania from the general hospital at Brook Station, Virginia. His unnamed friend and brother Samuel had been killed on May 2 at the battle of Chancellorsville. It appears that Daniel had been wounded himself, but the nature of his problems are not listed in his service record.

Of course many thousands of letters like this must have been sent to families all across the North and South after every battle. Both families and soldiers were always anxious to receive letters, but in some sad irony, this was not the letter that anybody ever expected to find at their doorstep.

"General Hospidel Brook Station May 11 1863

Dear Friend Mary

I thought it my duty to drop you a few lines for your incouragement
if I can tri as it is you have lost your all.You have lost that one that was near and dear unto you.The one that your comfert restet upon and
often made you glad with him.But now he
has been taken from you and has gon to the spirit world and hope he can exclame
as the Samas did safe at home … there is no war but wheir all is love and picee
and harmoney and he has left a bright testomony behind that he was prepaird to
die.The last words I spoke with him was
about about his eternal wellfair and I told him that if he was not yet fuly
prepaird to die that I would erge him to be earnestly earge him to to pray much
and look to god in faith and he would make him hole.He was getting on my beadside when I talket
to him and the tears were flowing down his cheaks and when I gave him goodby I
told him to pray for me and he said that I should pray for him that god should
bless him and I promised him I would and so I did.But god has seen fit to call him from hour
side never to see him in this world.But
Mary let us try and prepare ourselves to meat him in another world when parting
shall come no more.Let us live right and
we shall die right.I have I hope you
have not forgoten what you had begon that is serving the lord.I would say to you be faithful and you shall
again meat your Dear husbent wheir you shall never part with him any more.But now he is gon shall we wish him back.I no but we will go to meat him.Hard it is to give him up but the will of the
lord bee done.I think I can know how
you feal to five your only true one up never to see him again.I know how you feal for I cant hardly rest
day nor night since he was killed.It
came to my heart like as if a spear had been stabed through me and it made me
that sick that I could not sleep nor get up out of my bead.I suppose I cand give you more knews then of
him then what I can for I did not see him but I spoke with hour Chaplain and he
and Do Fisher beried him and he said that they dug a grave and laid him in and
cover him with his blanket so that he is beried better than most.The most are piled on heaps in large holes
but it matters not where the body is so the sole is safe in heaven and I trust
he has gon safe over.Mary put your
trust in god.May he chear and give you
aid is my prayer.I must now close.I must say a word to my Dear Mother in
this.This littel book give to
Derbin.Write to me and tell me how you
ar geting along.

D.C. Holloway

Dear Mother,

The hand of god has again been laid heavyly been laid on
your heart.No don’t but I hope he will
help you to bear the cross tho it feals very heavy to part with such a Dear
Brother but the lord only knows weather I ever shall see my Family any more.But my face is still … werd that if I shall
nevershall meat my Friends and Family
on earth I hope to meat them hapy by and by.Mother we often have greaved your heart but in your old days we have bee
the cause of many a tear fall from your cheaks.But may the lord help you to bear this cross is my prayer fo we are in
the trap now and we must take what comes.I have some little hope of being discharge.Weather I will I don’t know but I will
try.Good by Dear Friend,

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About Me

I am a Licensed Battlefield Guide at Gettysburg National Military Park and have been studying Civil War history since about age five. The two things that I re-learn every single day are, how much more there is to learn about the American Civil War, and, at least one (usually 20) new thing. The folks that lived through this volatile period all have a story to tell and 'their stories' have changed my life. It is a story worth sharing and there is much for all of us to learn about what it means to be human.

Besides spending most of my time giving tours here at Gettysburg, I also present lectures and programs on numerous Civil War topics. If you or your organization is interested in one of these programs, please don't be shy and contact me. Some of my favorite topics include, but are not limited to; the George Spangler Farm at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Regiments in the war (specializing in the 40th PA (11th Reserves), 50th PA, 105th PA (The Wildcats) and the 127th PA (Dauphin County Regiment), The Wheatfield at Gettysburg, The Peach Orchard at Gettysburg, the Ninth Corps at Antietam, and many others. Thank you for browsing and enjoy.